The Hill Eatery – T.H.E. Place To Be In Bondi

By Vicki Heath on April 14, 2013 in Food

Way up yonder on the North Bondi incline sits The Hill Eatery, or T.H.E. if you will. This wonderful excuse for a restaurant pulls off a sophisticated homestead feel and serves proudly local wine and produce morphed into a menu that’s hard to fault.

The vibe at The Hill is very ‘salt of the earth’ with recycled timber the hero throughout. The tan leather built-into-the-wall banquette provides a great seating option that we snap up on sight. Above the banquette a shelf lined with potted herbs softens the somewhat industrial fit-out and drop lights provide the perfect hue for the cocktail drinking diners – the Oolong Iced Tea and the Garden Fresh with cucumber vodka and apple and rhubarb syrup are just two of the many highlights on the cocktail menu.

The Hill’s wine list is exclusively Australian with five whites and reds by the glass as well as a plethora of quality drops by the bottle. Amazingly, every drop is organic or biodynamic.

The crew at The Hill love their organics, sourcing local, sustainable and seasonal produce with a paddock to plate ethos. There are no zucchinis from Peru here. It’s all about the fruits of our Aussie backyard and the owners (also responsible for the popular Porch and Parlour) make it their business to be friends with their suppliers – from farmers to fishermen and everyone in between.

Dinner at The Hill consists of T.H.E. Small Plates, T.H.E. Share Plates, T.H.E. Big Plates and T.H.E. Pasta.

You can start with Coffin Bay oysters, pickled prawns, a meat, cheese and condiments board, or heirloom carrots with labne candied walnuts and herbs, before moving on to bigger drawcards like a felafel salad with hummus and quinoa tabouli and broccoli, or grilled salmon resting on a sweet potato and ginger puree with a side of perfectly steamed greens.

There’s also slow cooked Berkshire pork belly with pineapple, Brussels sprouts and beetroot on offer, as well as lentil and kefalograviera moussaka and a delicious seafood paella. Masterful chef Sunny doesn’t miss a beat in the kitchen and the floor staff at The Hill are all-round professionals so you’ll be well looked after.

The dessert menu is absolute heaven and I’m quite sure I died and went there. A dark chocolate tart with a crunchy cinnamon shell, salted caramel, peanuts and vanilla gelato piqued my interest, and an espresso martini served in a short glass was the ideal accompaniment.

The Hill attracts an eclectic crowd from the cool crew to families and the pram set. There are more than a few chaps with beards floating about, as seems to be the trend in Bondi these days. Whatever the time of day (The Hill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner), it’s impossible not to merge with the crowd and slip straight into the relaxation zone. Whatever you’re craving, The Hill Eatery is T.H.E place to be.

The Hill Eatery

Address: Shop 5, 39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi
Phone: (02) 9130 2200
Website: www.thehilleatery.com.au
Open: 7 Days, 8.30am until late
Price: $3.50 – $45 for big share plate
Seats: 88
Cards: All cards except Diners
Licensed/BYO: Licensed only